Fans of Tex Mex food should head over to The Hungry Toad for their signature dish. Free range chicken, fried in buttermilk and their secret coating, served with choice of toppings and homemade hot sauce, honey and lemon, seasame seed or blue cheese dressing.

Savanna Grill specialises in South African street food, and their dishes for the night include the mighty meat feast Bunny chow – a lamb curry served inside a hollowed out loaf of bread and homemade biltong – air-dried beef marinated in coriander and spices.

Putting a healthy twist on junk food, The Vegan Grind House has their own take on the classic American Philly Cheesesteak. Their version is a freshly baked sub roll filled with marinated seitan steak strips, mushrooms, onions and jalapenos, topped with their homemade nacho cheese sauce.

After eight months of research, The Jabberwocky is premiering a new gourmet toastie. The Scotch Egg toastie is full of free range egg, covered in cheese and with sausage meat from a local butcher.

Gourmet hot dog fans will remember ‘The Edna’ from Big Daddies Diner’s previous visit to Rugby Food Festival. This is an all beef dog in brioche bun served with lashings of homemade beef chili, dressed with cheese and homemade jalepeno relish. Not for the fainthearted!

Those with a sweet tooth won’t be left out. For dessert The Bournville Waffle Company will be serving Rocky Road waffles with marshmallows, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate chunks with freshly whipped cream and chocolate sauce from their pretty, pastel converted ice cream van.

For the chair of the 1st Thursdays team Simon Ainley, it was an easy decision to locate the street food market on Jubilee Gardens. He says “Right in the heart of the town centre we have this lovely triangle of grass, trees and benches in which to soak up the delicious tastes and aromas of our street food chefs. It is an underused public space that we are delighted to be able to make the most of for our late night shopping extravaganza.”

From 5 – 8pm visitors can eat alfresco and relax under gazebos in Jubilee Gardens to the soothing sounds of local musicians Ben Watts, Kate and the Moon Cats, Becki and The Dove and The Rattletones.

Appetites will also be sated by shopping for locally produced cheese, pickles and other deli delights inside the Clock Towers and savouring hot dogs and burgers crafted from locally reared pork by the Red Banger outside Rugby Tap.